Chapter 12
Margaret wanted to say something nice, for dock lord her do the wade winte
She didn’t understand
She couldn’t figure out why font we in that c
She’d assumed it was just a prison showtie for ex–com
She thought Raven, that nobody, couldn’t ponally rare what Arary kinky the Heaters impress.
Still, Margaret hadn’t led the Hendersons this long for nording site was quick on dom
She swallowed her surprise fast. A fake smile spread scrow her writhetruck,
“General Yardley, she started, “I’m a straight talker 1 might’ve come down hard on the the just wow But I’m ber gradua Everything I said was for her own good. Don’t get the wrong idea,
Raven heard that and chuckled
“For my own good? She’s got a real knack for twisting things Raven sád, wirkung
“Well, guess I don’t mind paying her back” she added, cool as ever,
She stepped forward. One slow step at a time toward Margaret
As Raven closed in, Margaret felt a weight. Thick and unseen.
It pressed on her chest. She could barely catch her breath
“You little- Margaret started to snap.
“Slap!” A crisp smack landed on her face.
Three teeth popped out of her mouth.
“This one’s for your greed. You’d sell out your own blood for a buck!” Raven said, voice like ice.
Margaret stood there, reeling from the hit.
Before she could pull herself together, however, it came again.
“Slap!” Another smack cracked across her weathered face.
“This one’s for acting all high and mighty. You’re no mom or grandma!” Raven continued.
A third slap hit quick.
“This one’s for-” she continued.
A fourth slap cut in.
“Slap!” A fifth rolled in right behind it.
Nine slaps hammered Margaret’s face in all.
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Chapter 12
By the last one, her teeth were gone. Raven had knocked every úngle one ona.
Her legs buckled. She hit the ground hard.
– Margaret hollered, her voice quaking with rage, “You little monster, I’m your grandmat How could you do this to me? I
ending you right now…
Even with her face battered, Margaret kept shouting through her toothless gums.
The Hendersons around her stood frozen, floored by Raven’s ruthless swing
They couldn’t wrap their heads around it.
They remembered Raven from five years ago. Back then, she wouldn’t even mouth off to Margare
Now, here she was, smacking her own grandma right in front of them all.
They figured she’d gone off the deep end due to jail time.
A wobbly voice piped up from the side, “Raven… honey?”
Raven turned toward it.
She spotted a frail woman, all skin and bones, staring at her with teary eyes.
Raven let out, almost on instinct, “Mom…”
Ruth Henderson shook when she heard Raven’s voice.
She inched forward, tears pouring down her face, and stood behind her daughter.
Ruth managed, voice breaking, “Raven, it’s really you… I finally get to see you!”
Raven gave a small smile and spread her arms to pull her mom into a hug.
Ruth felt the warmth of it. New tears rolled down her face.
She murmured, over and over, “You’re back. You’re finally back. That’s all that counts…
But the hug didn’t last. A sharp glare zeroed in on her.
Ruth turned her head without thinking.
She caught Margaret’s poisonous, snake–like stare. A chill ran through her.
Margaret growled, teeth gritted, “You miserable thing, how did you raised her into such a snake?”
Ruth’s breath hitched at Margaret’s garbled, spiteful words.
She grabbed Raven’s hand quick, “Raven, let’s go! We’ve got to get out of here!”
Ruth knew Margaret too well after all those years with the Hendersons. She was a nightmare.
Raven had crossed her. If they didn’t bolt, they were done for.
Raven felt Ruth’s rough, calloused hand. A deep pang hit her chest.
It was the old Raven’s emotions, still lingering inside.
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Chapter 12
Raven shot Margaret a cool look.
Then she said to Ruth. “Mom, I’m here now. You’re going to be fine.
Margaret caught that. Her nerve flickered.
But then she pictured the old, timid Raven.
She imagined her fresh from jail, groveling at the Hendersons‘ doorstep. Her backbone stiffened.
Margaret said, voice like steel, “Ruth, she’s your mess. You handle her!”
She warned, “Break her legs right now! Or you’re both cut off from the Henderson family!”
